Background: Crowds of right-wing extremists attended the funeral of a former Athens security police chief, Mr. Evanghelos Mallios, who was shot dead on Tuesday (14 december). Mr. Mallios had been convicted of torturing political prisoners under the dictatorship. He was on release pending an appeal.

SYNOPSIS: Mr. Mallios was ambushed and killed near his home by unknown assailants. Leaflets left by the gunmen indicated the former lieutenant-colonel had been killed by the "17 November Revolutionary Organisation" The leaflets said that since the state had been unable or unwilling to punish the torturers retribution had to come from the people. November 17 is the date of the 1973 Athens polytechnic uprising which caused the downfall of the military dictatorship.

Angry crowds of right-win extremists rallied for the funeral. They assaulted journalists and photographers covering the event, sending three to hospital. One journalist is still reported missing. Later, the demonstrators broke up into small groups and rampaged through central Athens chanting "Papadopoulos, Papadopoulos" "Florakis (the Communist leader) to the firing squad and Karamanlis with him".

Afterwards the Ministry of Public order ordered the arrest of two former ministers of the dictatorship as well as the former chief of the Athens security police for inciting the riots.